Apparatus for splicing strips of paper



May 1935 v TOWNLEY 2,002,554

APPARATUS FOR SPLICING STRIPS OF PAPER Filed June 25, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WILL/HM 7Z3WNLEY- BY ATTORNEY Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR SPLICING STRIPS OF PAPER William Townley, Fort Dodge, Iowa, assignor to United States Gypsum @ompany, Chicago, ill., a corporation oi Illinois Application June 25, 1931, Serial No. 546,713

18 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for splicing paper or other sheet material and has reference more particularly to an apparatus for splicing continuous moving sheets of paper such as are commonly used in the making of plasterboard and for other uses.

In the making of plasterboard, it is common to unwind two strips of paper from two large rolls of paper and deposit plastic material between the two sheets oi paper, this plastic material usually consisting of a base of calcined gypsum or other cementitious material. When the roll of paper is exhausted, it has heretofore been necessary to stop the machines long enough to substitute a new roll of paper and start the new strip of paper through the machines.

An object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an apparatus for splicing two strips of paper or other sheet material together while they move continuously so as to avoid stopping the machine and thus slowing up production; also to improve sheet splicing apparatus in other respects hereinafter specified and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which Fig. l is an end elevation of the improved splicing machine.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the splicing machine.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of two strips of paper spliced togetherwith my improved apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on a large scale through the spliced paper strip, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the splicing ma.- chine,

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation through the splicing machine taken on line 68 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation through the splicing machine taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation through the splicing rolls shown in Fig. I but with the clutch devices in a different position, and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing the clutch devices in a still further position.

As seen in Figs. 3 and 4, my improved splicing method consists in causing the free ends of sheets II and II to overlap a considerable distance, and then by means of rotary cutters, punch semi-circular slits l2 through both sheets where they overlap so as to form tongues IS in sheet l0 and tongues II in sheet ll. Both tongues l3 and II will lie ln'the plane below the planes of sheets l0 and II after the punching operation and upon applying tension to sheet ll, tongues it will be moved so as to catch under the slit edge in the lower sheet i I thus securely interlocking the two sheets it and l I and accomplishing a very strong splice.

This splicing method can be applied to moving sheets of any kind of material, such as paper, where it is desired to splice a sheet from a fresh roll onto the free end of a sheet which has been completely unrolled. As one specific example of to its use,- it may be applied to the paper cover sheets used in the manufacture of gypsum boards in a mamier well known to the art. In the manufacture of such board, two cover sheets are used, an upper cover sheet and a lower cover sheet, a plastic gypsum base being deposited between the two cover sheets and rolled fiat so as to make a smooth board of uniform thickness. My improved splicing method will, of course, be applicable to both cover sheets but for the purpose of the present invention, the apparatus for carrying out the method is shown applied only to one cover sheet.

The apparatus consists essentially 01 a punch roll l6 and a die roll H, the former carrying a plurality of semi-circular or other shaped punches I8, arranged around a portion of the periphery of said roll, and the roll I! being provided with a plurality of die recesses I9 adapted to exactly coincide and register with the punches I8 of roll it. The roll I l is rigidly secured to a. shaft 20 which is rotatably mounted in bearings 2| supported in vertical frame members or standards 22. The roll i6 is mounted upon a. tubular shaft 23 which is provided with longitudinal slots 24 for a purpose to be described hereinafter and is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 25, the latter being supported by the frame members 22.

A gear 21 secured to the outer end of shaft 23, meshes with a similar gear 28 secured to the outer end of shaft 20 so that when the shaft 20 is rotated by means of a manually operated crank 30, both rolls l8 and I! will rotate in unison with the punches l8 registering with the dies l9.

Both rolls l6 and I1 are preferably of a. generally cylindrical shape with partially closed ends forming hubs 3| for engagement with the respective shafts. However, both rolls are preferably somewhat eccentric and arranged with thin walls so 32 over approximately one-half their circumference so that the rolls are spaced apart a substantial distance when not in operating position thus causing said rolls to be out of frictional contact with the moving strip of paper. The 86 lower roll I? may be conveniently arranged in one long cylinder spanning the distance between the upright frame members 22. In some gypsum board machines, it is customary to make three lines of rather narrow board at one time, the lines of board extending parallel and being conveyed by a supporting endless belt. However, when one wide board is made, the upper roll i6 may also be one long cylinder substantially the same length as the roll ll.

Whenthree lines of board are to be formed simultaneously, the upper roll it is preferably divided into a plurality, such as three sections i611, WI; and 950. Since any one of the three rolls of paper supplying the three lines of gypsum board may become exhausted at difierent times, it is necessary to provide clutch means for rotating each of the three sections of roll i independently of the other two. For this purpose I provide a rod 3Q which extends concentrically through the tubular shaft 23, being loosely arranged within said shaft for free axial or sliding movement. In order to cause the controlled axial movement of the rod M, I provide one end of said rod with a collar 36 secured thereto and provided with a pin 31 registering with a slot 38 formed in a yoke 39 on a lever so. The lever 40 is pivotally supported at its lower end on a pivot pin M which is secured to an outstanding bracket 42 mounted upon one of the standards 22. The upper end of lever 40 is connected by a pivot pin 43 to a bar 44 extending transversely of the machine and being slid=- ably supported at its free end in a slotted bracket 49 and 50 secured to the rod 34, suitable slots being formed in said rod to receive said clutch plates and a rivet 5i passing through said rod and each of said clutch plates so as to secure 7 the latter in position. The clutch plates 50 are preferably in the form of a fiat H with a central section 52 of reduced width slightly smaller than the diameter of central hubs 53 formed on the inner end of rolls 16a and I6!) and on both ends of the roll lGc. A pair of diametrically opposite,

' radially extending slots 54 are formed in each of the hubs 53 to receive the clutch sections 55 formed on eachend of each plate 50 by the jslots 52 and extending radially through slots 29 in shaft 23. In Fig. '7, the position of the plates 49 and is such that all three rolls l6 will be caused to rotate simultaneously as would be the the position of the plate 50 is such that roll l6bwill be caused to rotate while rolls lGa and "5c will remain stationary. It is thus seen that four possible combinations of the clutch devices are provided to meet any desired operating condition. Inorder to hold any desired number of the sections of roll it stationary while other rolls rotate, three cam locks 51, 58 and 59 are secured upon shafts M which are rotatably and adjustably mounted on fixed transversely extending supporting bars 6i. Each of the cams 51, 58 and 59 is arranged in one position to engage the punches it and prevent the rotation of its respective roll. The cam 59 has a hand lever 63 secured thereto within convenient reach of the operator who can actuate the cam 59 at any desired time. The cam 58 has an operating lever 6 3 secured thereto and the cam 51 has an operating lever 65. A bar 66 is pivotally connected at one end to the lever 6d and is slidably mounted at the other end in a bracket 61, being provided on its free end with a handle 68 to be manually actuated by the operator. A bar 69 extends transversely of the machine and is pivotally connected at one end to the upper end of the lever 65, being slidably mounted at its other end in the bracket 61. The free end of the bar 69 is provided with a handle "iii in convenient reach of. the operator. It is thus seen that all of the control handles for operating the machine are all arranged within easy reach of the operator so that he can quickly make 9. splice at the proper time without shutting down the board machine.

In order to hold the piece of paper in position just before the splice is to be made, an'arcuate shaped table 12 is mounted upon a cross-bar i3 which is secured at its ends to the vertical standard or frame member 22. The lower strip of paper ii always travels in contact with this table 12, being pressed downwardly upon said table by a pressure plate 14 which is secured to a. cross-bar 75, the latter being pivotally secured at its ends in the frame members 22. An operating handle 16 is secured to the bar 15 and is connected by spring iii to one of the side members 22 so that pressure of the plate I4 on the stripof paper is always maintained. When the operator is about to insert the end of the fresh strip of paper ill into the splicing machine to accomplish the splice, he pushes down upon the handle 16 to relieve the pressure of the plate 14 onthe lower strip oi paper Ii.

In operation the strip of paper II continually passes between rolls l6 and [1, but out of frictional contact therewith, said strip being in frictional contact with the table 12 and being pressed All downwardly by means of pressure plate 14 actuated by spring 11.

Where a plurality of strips II is being used simultaneously, and a roll from which one of these strips 5 i is being supplied is about to become exhausted, the operator} adjusts handles 83, 64, and It so that only the necessary section "a, iGb or IE0 will be perniitted to rotate and the remaining sections are held stationary by the ac-' tion 01' the proper cam locks 59, 58, or 51. The operator then actuates handle 46 to adjust the clutch plates 49 and 50 to a position such that the desired roll section will be rotated upon actuation of crank 30. Thereupon, when it becomes nearly time to splice, the operator presses down upon handle iii to release the pressure of plate 14 on strip II, and inserts the end of a strip l0 leading from a new roll of. material under pressure plate 14, feeding out sufficiently to bring the end of the strip under roll i6, and releases handle "I! so that plate I4 will press strip l0 against strip I I.

Just before the free end of the exhausted strip of paper II passes over the table 12, the operator turns crank and the punches l8 engage'the' die recesses I! so as to form the plurality of '76 semi-circular slits l 2 and tongues l3 and H which are pressed downwardly out ot the plane of sheets "I and l I so that by reason of the tension on the sheets said tongues l3 and I4 are caused to go into the position shown in Fig. 4 to firmly lock and splice the two pieces of paper together. Further tension on the strip ll acts to increase the locking action of the tongues l3 and the splice is accomplished. One rotation of the crank 30 is sufllcient to accomplish the splice.

I would state in conclusion that while the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodimerit of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself precisely to these details, since manifestly, the same may be considerably varied without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an apparatus for splicing moving strips of paper, a plurality of punches mounted for independent rotation and arranged adjacent one side of a moving strip of paper, and a. rotatably mounted die member positioned adjacent the opposite-side of said strip of paper, said die member registering and rotating in unison with said punches to form slitsand tongues in said strip and a second superposed strip, for splicing said strips together.

2. In an apparatus for splicing moving strips 01! material, a plurality of groups of rotatably mounted punches arranged adjacent one side of a moving strip of material, a rotatably mounted die member positioned adjacent the opposite side of said strip of material, means for rotating one or more groups of said punches in unison with said die member so as to cause said punches to register with said die member and form slits and tongues in said strip and a second superposed strip, for splicing said strips together.

3. In an apparatus for splicing moving strips 01' material, a roll comprising a plurality of coaxially mounted roll sections arranged adjacent one side of a moving strip of material, a second roll rotatably mounted adjacent the opposite side of said strip, means for rotating one or more of the roll sections in unison with the second roll, and co-operating punches and die means associated with said rolls and arranged to register upon rotation so as to form slits and tongues in said strip and a second superposed'strip, for splicing said strips together.

4. In an apparatus for splicing moving strips of material, a roll comprising a plurality of coaxially and rotatably mounted roll sections arranged adjacent one side of a moving strip of material,means for selectively rotating one of said sections so as to form an operative splicing roll, a second roll positioned adjacent the opposite side of said strip of material, means for rotating said operative roll section and said second roll in unison, punches and die means associated withsaid rolls and adapted to register upon rotation so as to form slits and tongues in said strip and a second superposed strip, for splicing said strips together.

5. In an apparatus for splicing moving strips of material, a roll comprising a plurality of coaxially and rotatably mounted roll sections, clutch members for independently engaging said roll sections, means associated with said clutch members for causing the. rotation of one or more of said sections while the remaining sections remain stationary, a second roll arranged adjacent the opposite side oi said strip or material,

and punch and die means associated with said rolls and arranged torctate with said rolls and register so as to form slits and tongues in said strips and second superposed strip, for splicing said strips together.

6. In an apparatus for splicing moving strips of material, a plurality of co-axially and rotatably mounted rolls, clutch members associated with said rolls, adjusting means for causing said clutch members to selectively engage one or more of said rolls, driving means associated with said clutch members for causing the rotation of an operative selected roll, means for holding the remaining rolls stationary,'another roll arranged adjacent the opposite side of said strip of material, and punch and die means associated with said rolls and arranged to register upon rotation so as to form interlocking tongues in said strips and a second superposed strip, for splicing said strips together.

7. In apparatus of the character described, abjacent normally inoperative roll members, cooperating punch and die elements on said rolls adapted to operate upon sheet material passing between said rolls when they are rotated, means for simultaneously and intermittently rotating said rolls, said rolls being arranged to be substantially out of contact with each other while inoperative whereby to permit said sheet material to pass freely therebetween until said rolls are rotated, and manual means providing optional control for engagement and clearance of said punch and die elements.

8. In apparatus of the character described, normally stationary punch and die rolls in coperative relationship and arranged for the passage therebetween of sheet material to be operated on, and means for intermittently rotating said rolls, sa:l d rolls being arranged to operate on said sheet material only when the same are rotated, and manual means providing optional control for engagement and clearance of said punch and die rolls.

9. In apparatus-of the character described, adjacent eccentric punch and die rolls in cooperative relationship and arranged for selective intermittent rotation, and means for rotating said rolls, said rolls being arranged to permit free passage of sheet material to be operated upon therebetween until rotation of said rolls.

10. In apparatus of the character described, adjacent punch and die rolls, means for simultaneously and intermittently rotating said rolls, one of said rolls being provided with punch elements over a portion of its periphery, and the other roll being provided with complementary die elements, said rolls being arranged to normally remain stationary and with thepunch and die elements out of register, said punch and die elements being brought manually and optionally into operative register only when said rolls are rotated.

11. In apparatus of the character described, adjacent eccentric rolls, means for simultaneously rotating said rolls, said rolls being arranged to come into close proximity only with the projecting portions of their periphery, and cooperating cutting elements on said projecting portions and adapted to operate upon a strip of sheet material passing between said rolls.

12. In apparatus of the character described, an eccentric roll provided over the projecting portion of its periphery with outstanding punch means adapted to-cut individual tongues in sheet ma terial.

13. In apparatus of the character described, an '15 eccentric roll provided over the projecting portion of its periphery with recessed die means adapted to cooperate with punch means for cutting individual tongues in sheet material.

1 In apparatus of the character described, a roll comprising a plurality of sections, drive means, means in association with said drive means for selectively engaging any one or more of said roll sections to rotate the same, and means for holding stationary any roll section not rotatably engaged.

15. In apparatus for splicing sheet material, means for cutting interlocking tongues in moving sheet material and adapted to operate on a sheet which is the whole width of the apparatus or on one of a plurality of separate parallel strips, said means being in a plurality of sections disposed transversely of the moving material, and means for actuating any one of said sections while the remaining sections remain inoperative.

16. In apparatus of the class described, a hollow shaft, a plurality of independently rotatable r011 sections mounted on said shaft, a rod within said shaft, and clutch plates on said rod and extending through slots in said shaft, means on said roll sections for engagement with said clutch accepts plates, and means for moving said rod to vary the position oi said clutch plates to engage and cause rotation of any one of said sections when said shaft is rotated.

17. In apparatus of the class described, a shalt,

a plurality of independently rotatable roll sections mounted on said shaft, clutch means associated with said shaft, means on said roll section for engagement with said clutch means, said clutch means being adapted to selectively engage and cause rotation of any one oi said sections when said shaft is rotated, and means for retaining stationary any roll not engaged for rotation.

18. Apparatus for splicing moving sheet material, comprising means for cutting interlocking tongues in said material, and means for manually and optionally causing operation of said cutting means when a splice is to be made, said cutting means being arranged during inoperative in: tervals to permit free movement of said sheet material adjacent thereto and being adapted to operate on said material during uninterrupted movement of said material when said cuttime means is actuated.

WIILIAii/Z TOWNKEY. 

